Sunsets Into Sunrises
Bishop Martin - The Progress of a Soul in the Beyond
- Chapter 38 -
BISHOP MARTIN IN HIS CELESTIAL HOME. - THE FIRST SURPRISE. - INTERIOR OF THE HOME.
On entering his little house, Bishop Martin is very surprised to find Me already awaiting him at the threshold to show him around; for the others, this is done by angels, for their feelings for Me consist still more of awe than of love. With Bishop Martin, the contrary is the case, which is the reason why he did not like the idea at all of having to part from Me.
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However, when he sees Me in his house, waiting for him at the threshold, he is overjoyed.
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(Bishop Martin): "Ah, yes - this way I like it even better than in the hall of splendor in Your house! As long as You are with me, my beloved Lord Jesus, the smallest hut is the most glorious heaven for me!
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But how did You get here so quickly without my noticing it? That is another miracle, my dearest Lord Jesus, as everything about You is miraculous. Only I am still too stupid to comprehend it! But it is peculiar that You arrived here before me, considering that I left You behind at Your house!"
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(Say I): "Do not worry about these things, My dear brother Martin, for if I were not the First and the Last and All in all everywhere, things would not be too good in all infinity. But you may turn wherever you want to and you will find Me.
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Let us now inspect this little house, so that I Myself may instruct you in the correct use of all that you will see therein. Come with Me into your home which, though small, contains more than the whole world, even more than a solar system in the sphere of the natural world, as you will soon realize. So be it!"
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Bishop Martin follows Me in astonishment, for instead of the expected small room, we enter a huge hall. The longer and more attentive he looks around, the more it expands, displaying everything that he is able to imagine.
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In the center of this spacious hall, a large, shining white, round disc is displayed on a golden stand. Behind it, on a bronze stand, is the most perfect, artificial globe, showing everything - from the largest to the smallest - that the real earth contains, from its center to its surface, including all that is happening there.
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Behind this globe is a similar artificial display of the whole planetary system of the earth's sun, also showing every detail and peculiarity of the planets and the sun.
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The floor of this hall appears to be of pure sapphire, the high walls of emerald, the ceiling of lapis lazuli, with numerous stars. A glorious purple light enters through the large windows and shines on a magnificent gallery of finest jasper, adorning the hall at half its height. Twelve doors lead from the hall into the adjoining rooms. And, in addition to all this, the emerald walls reflect in beautifully colored silhouettes whatever Bishop Martin can think of.
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After he has gazed at all this for a while in astonishment, he speaks again: "Oh, Lord, what does this trickery mean? From the outside the house looks so tiny, yet inside it looks like a whole world! How is it possible that something is larger inside than out? This I cannot understand; it is quite beyond me!"
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(Say I): "My beloved brother Martin, you will soon understand all this. In the real, true world of the spirits, everything is the opposite from what it is like in the material world. What is great in the world, is only small here; but whatever is small in the world, is great here. Who in the world is the first, is last here; who is the last, is first here!
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What is the size of a man in the world? It may be six feet high and two feet wide. But if he is a wise man, imagine what boundless greatness and depths are in his heart! Believe Me, all eternity will not suffice to reveal the wealth of its wonders.
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In the world, you have often looked at grains of wheat. Although such a grain is so small in its volume, it contains so vast a number of its likes, that it cannot be measured in eternity. The same principle is revealed here before you.
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The exterior of this house compares with your now very humble outer person: it is, as you are, small! However, the interior is like your inner wisdom, which comprises greater things. Therefore, it also appears larger than the exterior of the house. And the more you grow in true wisdom, resulting from My love, the more it will expand. For in this world everyone lives from his wisdom which depends on the measure of his love for Me. And this wisdom is the originator of all that you see here and find so miraculous.
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But behold that shining white, upright tablet; it represents your conscience cleansed through Me. From now on, you will at all times find My will revealed on this tablet and you shall act in accordance with it forthwith.
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In the world, as a matter of fact, every human being has such a conscience-tablet in his heart which records My will to be followed, but only few take notice of it. And many paint this tablet black with their sins so as not to see My will at all.
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This shows you how true to life the equipment of your house is, and that there is no trickery involved, as you originally assumed.
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Behind the tablet is a true image of the world as it is in its essence, and behind that, you see the sun with its planets. If there is anything you do not understand, look at the reverse side of the tablet, facing the earth, and you will find the explanation there. And if you then want to know what you have to do about it, the front of the tablet will show you what My will requires.
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You also see twelve doors leading from this large hall into smaller rooms, where you will find a variety of dishes still partly covered. Do not eat from them before I have blessed them all for you or they would dull your perception and render you unable to read the writing of My will on this tablet for quite a while. Therefore, whenever you come face to face with such covered dishes, turn your back on them and come to Me, and I shall go and uncover the dishes for you and bless them.
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Now you know the position; act accordingly and you will continuously grow in beatitude! So be it!"